Flourish Together

Investing in women as a force for social change

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NEW PROGRAMME OF COURSES LAUCHING SOON!

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Good news! We have received investment from the WEA via the UK Single Prosperity Fund, to support women in Stockport, Manchester and Bury.

In addition to our usual social enterprise development opportunities, the funding secured will support community learning initiatives across Digital and Tech Skills development, Health and Wellbeing, Careers Development and Financial Literacy. 

We will be working collaboratively across the 3 boroughs with organisations we already have established relationships with, who support women as a force for social change through our collective of delivery partners. However, we are very excited for the new relationships we’re fostering with Healthy Me, Health Mums in Bury.

The programmes will cover a wide range of formats which support women by meeting them where they are in their journey, with some of the courses open to all.

These include:
– 1 or 2 Day course in topics such as Entrepreneurship and Introduction to Holisitic Therapy Training.
– Monthly Health and Wellbeing sessions to support the development of personal resilience, healing and community.
– Digital Skills development topics including introduction to Podcasting, Using Social Media for Business growth and Understanding G-Suite for Business
3D Printing and PAT testing (which will be open to all).

For more information on courses, programmes, and upcoming opportunities email us at info@flourishtogether.org.uk

☀️Summer of Wellbeing☀️

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Here at Flourish, we’re investing in health and wellbeing all summer 2024! 

Prioritising self-care as an adult is paramount!

Studies show that individuals who take the time to do things that improve both their mental and physical health have increased energy for everyday tasks, are at a lower risk of illness and have better stress management techniques.  

With careers in holistic health and accredited therapy training courses as a key element of our business, we want to ensure we’re doing what we can to support the wellbeing of our local community through providing accessible and affordable events for our Flourish Network and across Manchester.  

However, we understand life doesn’t always accommodate the luxury of allowing people to do so. Whether you’re a business or social entrepreneur, parent, carer, or just figuring out life – it is important to be intentional about dedicating time for wellbeing practices.  

We’ve been funded by the Workers Education Alliance (WEA) to facilitate initiatives, activities and events, which empower, encourage and motivate people to prioritise their health and wellbeing to ultimately improve all areas of their lives. Therefore, we are championing changemakers from across our network to host a variety of workshops and events here at the Flourish Hub to get people to connect with each other and reconnect with themselves. 

Due to the success of Mindfulness with Janet, Sip and Paint with Sophia, our monthly Pop-up Spa and the increased demand of Wellness Wednesdays with Tamara; In collaboration with non-profits across Stockport, we are planning a health and wellbeing day event for mid-July.  

At the event, attendees will have the have opportunity to participate yoga, mindfulness and breathwork taster workshops, mini-treatments from our pop-spa therapists, taste food from local caterers as well as gain insight on various wellbeing initiatives happening across Manchester this Summer and Autumn.

Please keep an eye on our Eventbrite for further updates as dates, times and tickets as they’ll be out soon!  

MEET THE NEW FLOURISH TEAM FOR 2024!

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Over the last few months, the team of staff and board of directors at Flourish Together has quickly evolved! Merging the skillsets of multi-media, social enterprise, housing associations and health and wellbeing, the new additions to the team promise an exciting future ahead! So, introducing…

Judith Nyanjowa – Enterprise and Learning Manager

I have always been an advocate for women from a very young age. I love to be part of something that is creating change for the better and making a difference in peoples lives and as Enterprise and Learning Manager I am excited to work with woman changemakers who are making a difference within their communities supporting them to be better and access opportunities available to them. 

Interests

My passion lies in fighting discrimination of any kind. I am passionate about empowering communities and promoting equity. I have had varied roles working with young people, in housing and as a charity worker. I am part of a women’s network, supporting women from racially marginalised backgrounds and some restricted by immigration laws using lived experience to highlight their experiences and make a difference within their communities.

I’m currently delivering and supporting women on the Bury and Cheetham Hill T2G programmes, with the hope they’ll be able to follow their passions, foster the courage to make the changes they wish to see in their communities and their lives too.

You can find Judith in the Flourish hub on Thursdays but you can reach her at judith@flourishtogether.org.uk

Sofra SOUP Highlight: The Bird Box Celebrations! 🥳

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This summer, Natasha the Co-founder of The Birdbox Mcr and winner of our SOUP event at Sofra Cafe, used her cash award to create something truly special: a day dedicated to celebrating the efforts of her hardworking volunteers.

Natasha’s vision was simple yet powerful: to bring her volunteers together for a day of appreciation, allowing them to relax, reflect, and have their voices heard in shaping the future of the organization. Thanks to the funding she received, she organized a celebratory lunch for 13 team members hosted by local food business Tibetan Kitchen, held on their newly refurbished double-decker bus, providing a unique and memorable setting.

The afternoon was invaluable. It wasn’t just a time for the team to unwind and socialize, but a moment for collective reflection. Staff evaluations and feedback were gathered, helping the organization grow stronger with the input of those who make its work possible. The impact of this experience went beyond the lunch itself—it helped foster a deeper sense of community, recognition, and shared purpose among the volunteers.

Natasha expressed her heartfelt thanks, saying, “Without the funding, this wouldn’t have been possible, so thank you so much.” The cash award was made possible by the backing of Flourish Together, Manchester Social Economy Alliance, Manchester City Council, and NatWest, playing a crucial role in turning this idea into reality. It’s initiatives like this that allow social enterprises to grow, offering crucial investments that help cover training, equipment, events, and development costs or launch new products and services.

These types of community investments, like those offered at SOUP events, are a lifeline for social entrepreneurs, giving them the resources to transform their ideas into impactful ventures. The importance of supporting social enterprises, especially within the VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) sector, cannot be overstated. These organizations not only create positive change in their communities but also empower individuals, particularly volunteers, who are the backbone of these efforts.

As we celebrate these success stories, we’re reminded of the significance of community-led funding and the vital role volunteers play in driving social progress. By providing opportunities for social enterprises to flourish, we are also investing in the well-being of the volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, and passion to making a difference.

If you’re inspired by Natasha’s story and have an idea you’d like to pitch, the next SOUP event is on Thursday November 14th, from 6pm-8pm at Platform 4, Altrincham Hub. This event will also mark the 11th anniversary of Flourish Together and the launch of their new Altrincham Hub. This is an exciting opportunity to get your idea off the ground and make a meaningful impact in your community. Get you tickets on our Eventbrite!

Let’s continue to support the growth of social enterprises and celebrate the invaluable contributions of volunteers who help make it all possible.

Flourish Careers In Holistic Health – The Highlights!

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As you hopefully already know, here at Flourish Together we have been providing fully funded foundation holistic health courses in various locations across Manchester.

Over 9 weeks, aspiring holistic therapists are taught the fundamentals, practical skills and theoretical knowledge in Facials, Manicure and Pedicures before they are awarded certificates recognised by the Associated Beauty Therapists (ABT). In the final 2 weeks of the course, therapists set up at our monthly Pop Up Spa where they have the opportunity to familarise themselves with the products used, practice the treatments and techniques learnt on the course with real clients.

To date we’ve supported over 100 people to achieve holistic therapy accreditations, who have gone on to start their own business ventures, develop their clientele, and go on to complete further training. Many of which now form our monthly Pop-up Spa collective.

Tamara, Emma & Michaela are accredited alumni from previous years who have joined Fiona as support-tutors on the delivery of the current and upcoming courses. We’re extremely proud of the diverse group of people we’ve managed to create, who are passionate about holistic health.

We are looking for some practice models on the following dates as part of our Facials training course happening in the coworking and meeting rooms on the following dates from 9am-4pm. 

Practice models for free Facials using quality products for a range of skin types are needed at the following times:

– Thursday the 12th September at 10am, 11:30 am and 1 pm

– Thursday, the 19th of September at 10am, 11:30 am and 1 pm

( future dates and times throughout October will follow when we’re looking for practice models for Manicures and Pedicures).

These treatments are free, they last up to an hour and we ask people to arrive 10 minutes beforehand to complete a short consultation form.

We hope you or people you know might like to get involved. 

Email Imani directly at info@flourishtogether.org.uk to book in or find out more.

MEET THE NEW FLOURISH TEAM FOR 2024!

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Over the last few months, the team of staff and board of directors at Flourish Together has quickly evolved! Merging the skillsets of multi-media, social enterprise, housing associations and health and wellbeing, the new additions to the team promise an exciting future ahead! So, introducing…

Lyla Galloway – Research & Admin Support

I started at Flourish last summer to gain some work experience after completing my A levels and following this, was offered a part time role. I am currently an undergraduate student studying Mathematics with elective courses in Social & Public Policy in Glasgow. In my role at Flourish I focus on impact reporting, gathering data from questionnaires, and summarising this to demonstrate social impact.

What’s Next?

I am looking forward to continuing my work on impact measurement and improving my report writing skills to further support women-led enterprises across Greater Manchester.

Random Fact

I play the flute and went on a week-long tour around Spain, playing in venues from cathedrals to wineries. I’ve even played in the Royal Albert Hall!

Altrincham Flourish Hub set to open this Autumn 🥳

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We’re getting excited here at Flourish as we draw closer to the opening of the new Altrincham Hub. Similar to the Heaton Chapel Station hub, part of ‘Action Stations,’ Altrincham has developed as a result of the regeneration project led by the Station Alliance (Northern Rail, Network Rail, TfGM, GMCVO and others) in partnership with Flourish Together CIC.

In preparation, we hosted several monthly focus groups to explore how to best utilise and evolve the space for those in the community. Each session provided a great opportunity to reconnect, learn about changemakers/social enterprisers and local organisations operating in Altrincham, the wider Trafford area and beyond.

[Read more…] about Altrincham Flourish Hub set to open this Autumn 🥳

MEET THE NEW FLOURISH TEAM FOR 2024!

by

Over the last few months, the team of staff and board of directors at Flourish Together has quickly evolved! Merging the skillsets of multi-media, social enterprise, housing associations and health and wellbeing, the new additions to the team promise an exciting future ahead! So, introducing…

Comfort Abimbola – Finance & Operations Support

I joined Flourish Together in the spring for a two-week work experience through the Carrioca programme, which supports students from Caribbean and African communities in transitioning to the UK workplace. This opportunity not only helped me gain valuable experience but also gave me insights into the work culture as an international student. After completing the programme, I was offered a part-time role in finance and operations and I am confident that this position will greatly boost my career prospects in the UK job market.

[Read more…] about MEET THE NEW FLOURISH TEAM FOR 2024!